8 Abs Moves That Work Better Than Crunches

You can crunch until you're literally blue in the face, but limiting your abs routine to that one move is never going to get you the flat stomach you're working towards. Instead, you need moves that target your obliques — the long muscled on the sides of the abdomen. Strengthening those muscles — via this eay routine from Nike Master Trainer Traci Copeland — will help tighten up your entire core for a sleeker look.

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Designed by Megan Tatem

You'll need a glider or dish towel. Perform each exercise for 30 seconds. Complete each exercise one after the other with little to no rest. Rest for 60 seconds, then repeat the circuit.

1. Knee-Up

Katherine Wirsing

A.From a seated position, place hands a few inches behind your butt, lean back, keeping spine straight, and lift heels until calves are parallel to floor.

B.Extend legs straight, hovering a few inches off floor and lowering back until shoulders are a few inches off the floor. Hold for 2 seconds, then return to start. Repeat.

2. Twisting Knee-Up

Katherine Wirsing

A.From a seated position, place hands a few inches behind your butt, lean back, keeping spine straight, and lift heels until calves are parallel to floor.

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B.Extend legs straight, hovering a few inches off floor and lowering back until shoulders are a few inches off the floor. Hold for 2 seconds, then bend legs to return to start, but twist toward right side. Repeat, the perform the move twice on the opposite side. Continue alternating.